american motorcycle company

Limited Units Available of Special Highly Collectible Model Designed to Commemorate the End of One Era in Motorcycling History, and the Beginning of Another

International Motorcycle Show, Long Beach, Calif. — December 8, 2012 — Indian Motorcycle, the original American motorcycle company, today announced the 2013 Indian Chief Vintage Final Edition, the final version of the Kings Mountain era of Indian Motorcycle, which is available in very limited quantity. The new model year 2013 Indian Chief Vintage Final Edition was unveiled before a gathering of the motorcycle industry press from the floor of the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, California, which takes place December 7th through December 9th at the Long Beach Convention Center.

This announcement marks the end of the Kings Mountain era of the Indian Chief, and signifies an important milestone in the 111-year storied history of the Indian Motorcycle brand. With a paint scheme emulating the iconic Indian Chief on display at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, the stunning new collectible 2013 Indian Chief Vintage Final Edition is a fully accessorized motorcycle that befits its place in the history of motorcycling. The extremely limited number of these bikes available is sure to excite collectors and pave the way for the new era in Indian Motorcycle under the leadership of Polaris Industries.

The 2013 Indian Chief Final Edition comes fully loaded with the World’s Fair-inspired paint scheme of Indian Red, Thunder Black, and Gold Pinstripe; auxiliary driving lamps; black leather solo seat with included detachable passenger seat; windshield; black leather saddlebags; chrome grab rail; leather fringe; engine guards; and chrome fender tips. Powered by the PowerPlus 105ci engine, this historic 2013 model will be manufactured in an extremely limited run and wears a custom-designed, numbered emblem on the frame to commemorate the brand’s historic achievements.

“We are working hard designing and building the new Indian Motorcycle, but we knew it was important to honor and celebrate the long and proud heritage of Indian Motorcycle, and the Kings Mountain era played a key role in that continuing history,” said Steve Menneto, Vice President of Motorcycles at parent company Polaris Industries. “When we acquired the Indian Motorcycle brand in 2011, our strategy was to retain the existing design, quality and high level of detail for which Indian Motorcycle has always been known, while making significant detail improvements in order to satisfy the continued demand from Indian Motorcycle dealers. The Final Edition is an acknowledgement of our gratitude to the team at Kings Mountain for sustaining the Indian Motorcycle story and its heritage as America’s original motorcycle brand.”

The Kings Mountain, North Carolina assembly line was transitioned to Polaris’ Spirit Lake, Iowa production facility in 2011. The line was transported and returned to full operation in an astounding eight weeks, and continued to produce new units for the Indian Motorcycle dealer base. The state-of-the-art Spirit Lake plant also manufactures Polaris Rangers and Victory Motorcycles, though each brand is built on its own dedicated assembly line.

Pricing and Availability

The 2013 Indian Chief Vintage Final Edition is exclusively available for purchase in North America with a MSRP of $37,599 and $39,599 in Canada. Interested parties are encouraged to contact their local Indian Motorcycle dealer as soon as possible due to limited availability. Log on towww.indianmotorcycle.com for dealer and model information.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The list of rare and historically significant Aermacchi/Harley-Davidson motorcycles that will be on display at this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days featuring Kawasaki, Marque of the Year, continues to grow, with a championship winning RR 250 heading the bill for the July 22-24 event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

“We’ve got some great bikes,” said John Basore of the Aermacchi-based group that is serving as this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Classic Club. “I’ve probably got one of every racer Aermacchi ever had lined up.”

Every year at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, the Classic Club display rounds out an exciting experience for vintage fans, many of whom will be attending to honor Kawasaki as the Marque of the Year. Aermacchi Harley-Davidsons, sold in the 1960s and ’70s, were the result of a unusual partnership between the quintessentially American motorcycle company and a small-bore Italian bike brand that introduced thousands of new riders to the Harley-Davidson name.

“At the time, Aermacchis may have seemed like an unusual choice to put in Harley-Davidson dealerships,” Basore says. “But the fact is that, when AMF bought Harley-Davidson, it allowed Aermacchi to win world championships for the Harley-Davidson Motor Co. That’s most impressive.”

The RR250 is a water-cooled two-stroke, twin-cylinder roadracer with a cassette transmission, an eccentric swingarm adjuster, dual front disc brakes and a full fairing. “It was comparable in every way to the best Yamaha of that time period,” Bashore said.

In addition to the RR 250, bikes planned for display include: a 1965 250CR, a ’65 250CRTT, a ’67 250H, a ’69 350SS, a ’70 350SS, a ’76 SS250, a ’78 MX 250, a ’73 SR100 and an all-original 1961 250C Sprint-one of the first models imported.

AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will also feature other activities celebrating Kawasaki as the 2011 Marque of the Year. These include displays, demo rides, seminars and autograph signings. Grand Marshal Jeff Fredette, a multi-time national and international off-road champion, will be on hand to reminisce and sign autographs, as well as compete in several vintage racing classes. Enthusiasts will also have an opportunity to win a new Kawasaki Z1000 and a classic Z1, given away together in a single raffle that benefits the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

Held at the world-class Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days includes vintage and post-vintage competition in motocross, trials, hare scrambles, roadracing and dirt track. The three-day event will also feature North America’s largest motorcycle swap meet, bike shows, demo rides of current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, the new product Manufacturers’ Midway, and club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs.

Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the Motorcycle Hall of Fame, which is located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio. The mission of the Hall of Fame is to celebrate, elucidate and preserve the rich tradition of motorcycling in America. Its exhibits honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit, passion, vision and entrepreneurship have played a vital role in shaping the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling. For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Hall of Fame’s website at MotorcycleMuseum.org

Tickets to AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days can be purchased online at MidOhio.com